Self-Discipline: You Can Do It!

Discipline. It’s one of the keys to successfully coping with job loss. But, what is it really?

A couple of years ago, when the school year was winding down, there was an article in the newspaper about a graduating senior being honored for never missing a day of school for all twelve grades. The principal made the comment that he was more accustomed to disciplining students than to giving them awards. That statement showed how most people commonly view discipline – as punishment. In my opinion, that student showed a better understanding of discipline than the principal did. It certainly took discipline to do what she did.

Dictionary.com gives nine different definitions for discipline. Here are the first three:
1. training to act in accordance with rules; drill: military discipline.
2. activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training: A daily stint at the typewriter is excellent discipline for a writer.
3. punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.

None of the other definitions even refers to punishment.

Notice that punishment is not first, or even second. And even when it is mentioned, it’s punishment with the purpose of correction and training.

The discipline that you are going to need won’t come from a parent, a teacher, your boss, or any other person. It will come from you. From within. And, it’s never easy.

You will almost certainly find that you need some help developing this skill, of course. I'm sure that the girl with the perfect attendance record needed help accomplishing that feat. Take advantage of your support system (family, friends, etc.) to help. There is a great resource link listed at the end of this article, too.

Also, you may as well start out by deciding to leave off the punishment. This may seem like it would be easy to do, since you will be the one making the decisions. But, it's anything but easy.

Just wait until you have had an interview that you blew. You'll have all sorts of negative thoughts and emotions - downright anger at yourself. But, it's not going to do any good to "beat yourself over the head." It may take some firm words with yourself to stay in control of the situation and learn from your mistakes so you don't repeat them. But, self-abuse is never going to make things better. If you ever needed yourself on your own side, now's the time.

Another thing that may take all the will power you can muster at times is the "simple, day-to-day stuff" such as getting up in the morning, eating right, and exercising. And keeping a positive outlook, when nothing seems positive, can be a real bear.

Read how one person's self-discipline made all the difference.

Learn to build self-discipline

Laid Off!

From http://www.aarpmagazine.org/

By Barry Yeoman, March & April 2009
For factory workers in America—especially those 45 and older—job security is a dying dream. Over the past year record numbers of employees have gotten pink slips. But some are managing to bounce back. Here are their stories.

KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL: Have you been laid off?

Share Your Story

The Knoxville News-Sentinel is looking for people in the Knoxville, TN area who have lost their jobs and are willing to talk about it. This is something that would be good for every newspaper in the country to do. If you have lost your job or know someone who has and are in the Knoxville area please consider participating. You'll be doing yourself and a lot of others a big favor. You can also post your story on the Job Loss Guide Network, regardless of where you live.

Below, I have included a copy of the News-Sentinel email:

----- Original Message -----

From: Webmaster Knoxville

To: mailto:NEWSSENTINEL@LISTS.SCRIPPS.COM

Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 7:48 AM

Subject: NEWS SENTINEL: Have you been laid off?

February 18, 2009

Hello,

Have you or someone you know been laid off recently from a Knoxville-area company?

The News Sentinel is working on an upcoming project about the layoffs taking place locally and is looking for people willing to share their stories.

If you know someone who would be interested in talking with us, please pass along our contact information:

Josh Flory, News Sentinel business reporter, flory@knoxvillebiz.com, 865-342-6994.

Lauren Spuhler, Knoxnews.com Web producer, spuhlerl@knoxnews.com, 865-342-6448.

Thank you,

Josh Flory and Lauren Spuhler
Knoxville News Sentinel

How We Grow: Find a mentor! Be a mentor!

The Job Loss Survival Guide (part 11) suggests finding or being a mentor. Here is some really good, practical information you can use.

From Guideposts.com
By Jessica C. Kraft, San Francisco, California
September, 2007

Who would Luke Skywalker be without Obi-Wan Kenobi? How could Plato have developed his philosophy without the forceful questioning of Socrates? These days Diana Ross offers her expertise to Beyonce, Alicia Keys and contestants on American Idol. Throughout the ages, mentoring relationships have been a powerful force for character and career development, for both mentor and protege. A good mentor can propel you toward success much faster than if you're on a solo quest. Mentors can give guidance in areas outside of their profession—in fact, much mentoring is aimed at helping you achieve personal and professional balance, and mentors often assist with making major life decisions that may not be career-related.

Whether you are starting a new business, rejoining the workforce after having a child or just beginning a new path in life, a mentor can help you go after your dream. So what's the secret to finding a mentor in your stage of life? And who makes a good one?

Identify Candidates.Once you've decided what you want the mentor to help you with, compile a list of candidates. Even if it has been a while since you graduated, your school's career counseling office is a good place to start. Successful alumni are often willing to give informational interviews, and some schools offer networking opportunities to alums.

Business associations and professional organizations also have broad networks of contacts. SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) will connect you, free of charge, with a small-business mentor anywhere in the United States. Look locally for individuals in your field and research their accomplishments.

Many companies offer formal mentoring programs. Research has shown that new hires who are paired with a mentor are twice as likely to remain in their jobs as those who aren't mentored. If your office doesn't have a program, you can seek out a workplace mentor on your own. Anyone in a leadership position whose work you admire is a good candidate.

Build a Relationship.What's the best way to propose a mentoring relationship? You might start by asking a prospective mentor for help on a specific project to see if you click first. Or you might feel comfortable discussing it right away. In any case, read everything you can about her—show her you know who she is and what she has done. Ask about her career path and current projects and get advice about your situation. It's a nice gesture to take her out for lunch or coffee. Send a thank-you note afterward. Contact her again to follow up on suggestions that you found helpful.

Read the entire article

How to Find Yourself After Losing a Job

Here's a story that happened a generation ago, but it is just as meaningful as if it had happened last year. In fact, it can be particularly helpful to realize that job loss is an issue that people have had to deal with throughout history. We sometimes get too wrapped up with our own predicaments and forget that we can learn from what others went through years ago. Technology may be different today, but human emotions like fear, grief, and disappointment are the same as they have been for thousands of years.

From Guideposts.com
The glimmer of knowledge that I'd be laid-off didn't make the reality any easier. Learning how to to make the best of unemployment was the real eye-opener for me.
By James Masters, Ovilla, Texas
September, 1982

Although I'd seen it coming for a few days, the reality of that December morning was devastating. I was fired after five years as superintendent of a private school near Dallas. I'd thought it was only people who performed poorly that lost jobs. But I was a professional and college-educated; I'd given my all to the school! I'd always had a good job and good pay. Now the letter I held in my hand told me that none of that mattered. A difference in philosophy with a school board had reduced me from an administrator to just another statistic among the unemployed.

At the beginning I was mainly angry and anxious about my family's finances. Then as I watched my wife, Jeanne, go off to her job and my daughter leave for high school every morning, I became overwhelmed by the aloneness I felt. I hadn't just lost a job—I had lost my whole identity.

For months I felt that I was hardly a person anymore. But slowly, during that time, I discovered how to deal not only with the loss of a job, but with the loss of me.

Read the entire article

Your Job Search Strategic Plan

"A Job Search Snippet"

One of the main things to avoid when you lose your job is taking the "panic approach" to finding a new one.

Shortly after I took early retirement (due to a "down-sizing) several years ago, I considered going into business for myself. Fortunately, I did some research and found out about the need for a business plan and enrolled in a short training course. In addition to discovering that I probably was not cut out to be in business for myself, I also became much more aware of the need for planning -- in business, and in life.

One of the first things that the session leader told us was that a high percentage of small businesses fail simply because they do not have a business plan. I have decided that a lot of people who are searching for a new job have the same problem.

One of the best ways to start is to take advantage of existing resources -- many of them in colleges and universities. I found one that can be very helpful. Take a close look and just remember that just because you are not a recent college graduate -- even if you are not a college graduate at all -- you can use most of the ideas and methods you will find. Just click on the title of this post.

“Job Search Snippets” are intended to just introduce you to ideas that have worked for others. They won’t take a long time to read, but hopefully they will each give you something to think about and use to help yourself get through this.

Networking: The Best Way to Search for a Job

A "Job Search Snippet"

Who you know DOES matter,
at least where your job search is concerned. That's why networking is one of the best ways to find a new job. You can find some really good ideas in an About.com article on the subject.

Another way to combine effective networking and satisfy some of the need for an income can be through temporary employment agencies. Several years ago, when my son Ralph was just out of college and looking for a job, he answered a "blind ad" in the newspaper classified section. It turned out to be for a temporary job that "got him in the door" of a major company.

Even casual contacts you make in the grocery store, a restaurant, or a book store can have results you would normally never expect. You just have to keep a positive "always interviewing" attitude.

“Job Search Snippets” are intended to just introduce you to ideas that have worked for others. They won’t take a long time to read, but hopefully they will each give you something to think about and use to help yourself get through this.

Credit Problems? Be Careful Where You Go for Help

Being in debt and out of a job at the same time is a lot bigger problem than either of those problems by themselves. What can make it even worse is that there are a lot of "credit counseling agencies" out there that are taking advantage of people's problems instead of helping.

There are some "good guys" out there, too. Here's one.

From the DebtAdvice.org website:
DebtAdvice.org is designed to help consumers understand the wise use of credit and locate a trained, certified counselor if you are in need of assistance. DebtAdvice.org is a service provided by the members of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, (NFCC), most of them known as Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS). The NFCC promotes the national agenda for financially responsible behavior and builds capacity for its members to deliver the highest quality financial education and counseling services

Self-Help Assessments

College Board Interest Inventory
Even if you aren't planning to go back to school, you can use this web site to help determine your job interests. Then use the Skills Assessment below to help find the skills required for those jobs. After that, you can scroll down to the Occupational Outlook Handbook web site link to find out more about the jobs you are interested in.

Skills Assessment
This skills assessment uses the Occupational Network web site at http://online.onetcenter.org/ (Read below for tips on using.)You can use this web site in at least two different ways:
Use the skills list to pick out the skills you are good at (or the skills you want to learn.)Then use that set of skills to pick out what kinds of jobs you might like.
Or, you can pick a job and find out what skills are needed for that particular job.

Occupational Outlook Handbook web site
This web site has lots of information about all sorts of jobs, such as what it's like to do the job, what education you'll need, the kind of pay you can expect, and even how easy it will be to find work in that field.

Additional Self-Assessment Links
The Keirsey Temperament Sorter II (Personality -- Similar to Myers-Briggs)

Finding Your Own Behavioral Style

See How Well You Communicate

Health (Physical, Emotional)

Career Tests

Values Assessment

The Unemployment Picture

I just found this great graphic that shows unemployment rates in each state. Just click on the title of this post and then use the "slider" at the top of the graphic to see what has happened in a little over a year.

I got it from 110% - a great blog which has some great ideas and information related to career and job issues. Be sure to take a look.

The content goes right along with the name (as you would naturally expect) and it just helps emphasize and illustrate the "crucial survival skill" from the Job Loss Survival Guide.

You’re Always Interviewing

“A Job Search Snippet”

Several years ago, my son Brian was in a book store browsing. He noticed a man who seemed to be trying to find something rather than just killing time. So, he said something like, “Hi, could I help you find something? I’m pretty familiar with this area of the store.”

The man was so impressed with this offer to help a complete stranger that he asked my son to get in touch with him at his office. He said his company needed people who had that type of attitude and initiative.

You never know when you might do something that will make an impression on someone. A good impression or a bad one. Try to make sure it’s a good one. Just remember – You’re ALWAYS interviewing.

“Job Search Snippets” are intended to just introduce you to ideas that have worked for others. They won’t take a long time to read, but hopefully they will each give you something to think about and use to help yourself get through this.

“Almost Free” Training - Leadership

“A Job Search Snippet”

“If you want to lead, learn to speak.” I don’t know who said that. I read it years ago in a Success magazine article. But, it’s true. Being able to communicate is one of the most important abilities you can develop, regardless of what kind of work you do. And being able to stand in front of a group of people and express yourself in a way that people understand you and learn from what you are saying is a priceless ability.

One of the best ways to develop that ability is to join Toastmasters. The dues are low and the training is great! And it’s the best kind of training – learning by doing. With guidance from other members who understand just what you need. Check out the Toastmasters website to learn more.

“Job Search Snippets” are intended to just introduce you to ideas that have worked for others. They won’t take a long time to read, but hopefully they will each give you something to think about and use to help yourself get through this.

You Are Now a Manager

“A Job Search Snippet”

Regardless of what your job was or what position you held, when you lost your job you automatically became a manager. Unpaid, of course, but with all the responsibilities, headaches, concerns, etc.

You are now in charge of your own schedule. No one else will keep up with whether you are late to work or leaving early. Whether you take too long a break. What your lunch break is like. And if you think that is a ridiculous idea since you are unemployed, think again.

Because you do have a job. Your job is to find a job, and it’s a full-time job. It’s a hard job. It’s a frustrating job. It’s likely to be a thankless job. But, you can succeed if you keep at it.

“Job Search Snippets” are intended to just introduce you to ideas that have worked for others. They won’t take a long time to read, but hopefully they will each give you something to think about and use to help yourself get through this.

Career or Job?

By Jim Davis

Lots of people find these two words confusing. Sometimes it seems that they both mean the same thing. Then sometimes it seems that "career" only refers to jobs such as doctors, lawyers, professional athletes, actors, or others that people usually think of as making lots of money.

Actually, the word "career" usually is used to describe a broader area that may include many different jobs. For example, a person with a career in law enforcement might have several different jobs in that career. Possibilities could range from police officer to FBI agent. And even those job titles could include lots of different types of work.

There is also another way of looking at the difference between job and career. I think the best way to describe it is by telling about a man who had a great impact on my life. His name was Dick Young, and he was my Scoutmaster when I was a Boy Scout.

Dick was as a carpenter at the nearby air force base. He helped build office buildings, houses, and anything else that was needed. That was his job. But his career was Scouting. His job of building things of wood just provided the money for his career of building young men.

Why do I call Scouting his career when he never made a dime from it? It's because that was where his heart was. He loved his job as a Boy Scout leader as much as any person ever loved a job. He was good at it, but most of all, he cared. He had more effect on more boys in that little town than any other person in the whole place. And, his influence spread to other adults who then got involved. He was a true leader.

So, as you are trying to decide on the direction for your future, think through it carefully. There are a lot of important things to consider. Just don't forget to listen to your heart. It might lead you to a career you would have missed otherwise.

Learning to "Fail Successfully"

by Jim Davis

Our society is built on a paradox when it comes to failure. On the one hand we are taught about all the famous people -- inventors like Edison, political leaders like Lincoln and Churchill, athletes like Michael Jordan -- who went through periods of failure in their lives and triumphed to succeed. On the other hand, however, we learn that failure is a disgrace -- even answering a question incorrectly in class can bring ridicule, sometimes even from the teacher. Sometimes even a well-meaning comment can be perceived as a criticism that can have devastating results.

My late father-in-law told a story of his experience with this type of problem.

He was never very fond of "book learning" in school, although he was a very intelligent person. One day, however, his teacher gave a writing assignment that he really got excited about. He really put his heart into the project and did what he considered to be his very best work.
When I heard the story, he was in his late 60s, but the hurt was still on his face when he told how he was so excited to get the paper back from the teacher, and then he looked at her comment: "Too Brief." Nothing else. That teacher probably never had an inkling of an idea that she had squashed a budding interest in writing. But she did it.

Instead of pointing to the "obvious flaws" in your teen's reasoning when they come up with an idea for something they want to do, try encouraging them to try it. And if it doesn't work the first time encourage them to try alternatives. Just don't tell them what to do. Let them come up with their ideas. Even if they decide to ask for your help, make it clear that they are the ones in charge. If you make a suggestion that they don't like, it's their option to turn it down.

If this seems like too big a risk, try one thing before you "put your foot down." Rent the movie October Sky and watch it with your teen if you haven't seen it yet. (The book is great, too.) If you have already seen it, you already know what I'm getting at. Your teen will grow up to be an adult, regardless of what you do. You will have some input on what kind of adult they become, however.

"PRACTICING CONFLICT"

By Jim Davis

How does a Lady Vol basketball player get to be good at making free throws? How does a musician get to be a virtuoso? Practice, practice, practice. Practicing the right way, of course.

When was the last time you heard anyone suggesting that you practice conflict? Probably never. Most likely, any suggestion you got concerning conflict was about how to avoid it. Not about how to make conflict a more effective tool.

Oddly enough, kids just naturally find ways to practice conflict when they “play fuss” about trivial things. And it’s often pretty effective. They generally work things out if adults will just let them. Kind of like puppies or kittens “pretend fighting.” When I was about eight, my best friend and I got into a “fight” one day over a Kleenex. A used one. He won. We still laugh about it.

The inventors of the first airplane, the Wright Brothers, learned the value of simulated conflict early on. They had found that there was a lot of information available about “heavier than air” flying machines, but nothing they tried worked. It was all wrong. They realized that they were facing a much bigger task than they had counted on, because they were going to have to start practically from scratch. They even had to invent new research methods. One was simulated conflict.

When they came upon a difficult problem they would each take opposite sides. They would each then argue their side until they had exhausted every possibility they could imagine. And they would really “get into it,” according to their housekeeper, who was often concerned that someone would hear them shouting at one another. But they solved some serious problems this way.

Simulated conflict can be a great way to find solutions to real problems. It can also help you to learn how to handle real conflicts. You can even use simulated problems if you don’t want to risk solving a real one. You might want to stay away from the Kleenex box, though.

PAYDAY (Check Advance) Loans - 500%????

They Are Definitely Not There for You! They are there for themselves.

One of the worst financial decisions you can make if you are needing money is the payday loan. No only will you pay exhorbitant interest; you may be unable to pay the loan off.

Excerpt from an article in Wikipedia.org (read full article)

Borrowers visit a payday lending store and secure a small cash loan, with payment due in full at the borrower's next paycheck (usually a two week term). In the United States, finance charges on payday loans are typically in the range of 15 to 30 percent of the amount for the two-week period, which translates to rates ranging from 390 percent to 780 percent when expressed as an annual percentage rate (APR)[1] The borrower writes a postdated check to the lender in the full amount of the loan plus fees. On the maturity date, the borrower is expected to return to the store to repay the loan in person. If the borrower doesn't repay the loan in person, the lender may process the check traditionally or through electronic withdrawal from the borrower's checking account.

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE???

It Probably Is.

Today I got a letter in the mail reminding me of something stupid I did several years ago. It was from some legal firm informing me that I might have some money coming from a legal settlement in progress. Apparently it was legitimate, except that I don't see how I'm going to get much from a company that is going bankrupt - especially when my total claim couldn't be over $40.

The way it all started was this.

I was suffering from what is commonly known as "tennis elbow," which doesn't make much sense for me - the last tennis I ever played (badly) was about 30 years ago. That didn't keep it from hurting like crazy, though. It made me the perfect "patsy" for one of those "infomercials" hawking junk that is supposed to make you well. I didn't really fall for it, but I figured I would give it a try -- it had a money back guarantee.

That would have been fine, since it didn't do what it was supposed to (surprise, surprise) -- IF it hadn't been for the "fine print." It turned out that by opening the package and trying it I also voided the money back guarantee! I found that out by reading the instructions for requesting a refund. Right then I knew that there was no need calling for a refund. I HAD BEEN HAD.

You probably don't have tennis elbow - at least I hope you don't. But when you lost your job you automatically qualified for membership in a group that falls prey to all kinds of schemes. BE CAREFUL. Remember - - - -
IF IT SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS.

The Ten-Second Résumé

By Jim Davis

Guess how long it takes for employers to look over most resumes. If you read the title of this article you already know the answer. But you may not believe it.

Well, it's true. Most resumes get only 10 to 30 seconds of attention by the person who is reviewing them. And the people who submitted those resumes are out of luck. They don't even get considered for the jobs they were applying for.

This may seem unfair, but there's a good reason why those resumes got discarded so quickly. They had some kind of error in them. It may have been a spelling error. Or, maybe it was a grammatical error. Or it could have just been messy. Whatever the error was, though, it told the person reviewing the resume that the person who wrote it didn't care enough to make sure it was correct.

Your resume is your introduction to the person you hope will hire you. It's in your best interest to spend the time to be sure it doesn't get thrown out before they even have a chance to see what you have to offer.

Be careful when you are writing it. Get someone else who knows how to spot obvious errors to read it and point out any errors you may have made. Then make the changes and check it again. It's worth the effort.

UPDATE:
I just got an important comment (It's shown here) that you will want to know about.
Jim,You just donated 3 more seconds to my average time of "7 seconds" that average recruiters spent on perusing each resume.Among my instruction materials, I further advise job seeker to focus on the top 3 inches of space where "Summary of qualifications" should be written. If a resume passes the "3 inches" and "7 seconds" tests, candidate may get a call for telephone interview. Bernice Kao, Career Coach, Fresno County Library. www.fresnolibrary.org/jcs

Thanks, Bernice

The Five-Minute Interview

By Jim Davis

It's important to prepare for a job interview. There are lots of web sites that have practice interviews and quite a few books about them, too. Those resources are definitely worth using to prepare for an interview, but there is something else that is even more important.

People have a tendency to really get stressed out, just trying to have a perfect interview. When you realize that there is no such thing as a "perfect interview," you will be much better prepared than if you memorized all the possible answers to all the possible interview questions.
The job interviewer is going to be looking for some basic information about you from the interview. And, they will know in the first five minutes. How?

• By your grooming and your dress
• By your handshake
• By your eye contact
• By your manners
• By your self-confidence
• By your personality
• By your ability to express yourself

None of these things has anything to do with your experience, grades, interests, or ability to do the job. The interviewer will already knew enough about most of those things from your résumé or job application. What they get in the first few minutes of the interview is an idea of what you will be like to work with and how well you will actually do what you are capable of doing.

Work on improving these seven areas and you will definitely improve your chances in any job interview you may have.

Learn to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable

By Jim Davis
I originally wrote this with teens in mind, but it really applies to everyone. It's a good skill to be able to refer to in an interview. It's an even better one to be able to use in your job, as well as in all aspects of your life.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Teens can be super-sensitive about criticism. The fact that you are going to need to give them criticism makes this a particularly difficult issue. Learning how to take criticism and to use it constructively is a major part of growing into a responsible adult. Even when the criticism is not justified.

You are probably never going to intentionally give unjustified criticism, at least not from your perspective, but don't expect your teen to see it that way. Parents tend to react in one of two ways, usually. The first is to argue, with no decision being made. This often results in the parent giving in just to stop the argument. The second is to exert authority and force "agreement." This may bring about the result that the parent wants, but it may also do lasting damage to the relationship. A third method that can be much more productive is to discuss the issue as if there is at least a possibility that you are wrong.

In my opinion, this third method offers much more than the opportunity to convince your teen that you are right. It also provides you with the opportunity to back down "gracefully" if you (gasp) realize that you were wrong. In addition, whether your teen decides that you are right, you realize that you are wrong, or you both just "agree to disagree," you are helping your "child" to become an adult. And, agreeing to disagree does not necessarily mean that you reach an impasse. It may result in you exerting your authority and making a "ruling," but even that can help build a better relationship between you both. I made more than my share of mistakes in raising my kids, but one success I had demonstrates this.

My older son, Ralph, wanted to do something (neither of us can remember what it was now) that I didn't think was appropriate. We talked about it for some time, but it was obvious that neither of us was going to change his mind. So, I simply said, "I know you think you are right about this. But I don't, and I have an obligation to you that keeps me from giving in this time. As time goes on, we may find out that I was wrong. If that happens, I'll tell you I was wrong. I'll apologize. And, I'll do anything I can to make it up to you. But, right now, I have to do what I believe is the right thing."

He still didn't like my decision, but he decided that he could accept it.

A funny thing about this story is that neither of us can remember what the disagreement was about or who ultimately was right. We do remember the conversation we had, though, and we both learned from it.

Take Care of Yourself - Body and Spirit

If you have read The Job Loss Survival Guide you know that one of the problems that go along with job loss is depression. When you are depressed you aren't concerned with eating right, exercising, or keeping healthy in general. This is one of those situations where knowing what's going on is critical.

One thing you need to know is that in this case we are NOT talking about clinical depression - at least not usually. This depression is normal - as long as you work your way through it. It's not easy, but you can do it.

The main thing to do is remember that life is going on - it's up to you to keep up.

If you've ever had a broken arm or leg you can probably understand better what I'm talking about. When you broke it you found out right away that the world didn't stop to give you a chance to keep up. No one came up and said "I'll modify your car so it will be easier for you to drive." But you probably had to figure out a way to drive anyway. Or you had to get help from someone temporarily.

What you're going through right now doesn't involve a broken bone. It's your spirit that is bruised, or maybe broken. But it will heal - as long as you let it, and help it.

Exercise - even if you don't feel like it. Eat healthy food, even if you are not hungry (stay away from junk food as much as you can.) And be sure your spirit gets enough food and exercise, too.

You've heard the saying "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." Well, in this case the spirit may be saying "Go away. I'm tired." Your spirit may need a "personal trainer."

There are several ways to get that "personal trainer" and some of the best ones are basically free.

• Volunteer to help with a worthy cause. When you get interested and concerned about others who have different problems than yours it helps yours to heal.
• If you are a member of a church the other members can be a good resource for you. The church activities can help with the healing you need, too.
• Support groups can help. Talking it out can be therapeutic. Especially if the ones you are talking to understand what you're going through.
• This is the time that a close friend really is good to have, too.

Don't be afraid to get counseling if you find that you are "stuck."

Why Are Manhole Covers Round?

Job Interview Questions
By Jim Davis
You are probably wondering what in the world a question like that would have to do with a job interview. Well, you may be asked any number of different types of questions, and there are lots of reasons.

The "why are manhole covers round?" question is one I have seen used in practice interviews, but to be honest, I've never had it asked in a real interview. If it were, though, it would be basically to find out several things. One could be just to see how you react to an "off-the-wall" kind of question. Do you get flustered, or do you keep your cool? Another reason is to see how well you can think. What your answer is may not be as important as how you come up with it and how you state your answer.

Other questions interviewers will ask you probably fall into five basic categories:

• Your qualifications for the job.
  
• They may ask something about your grades, courses you took, etc.
  
• Your experience.
  
• Your opinion of yourself.
  This is no time to be bashful or to put yourself down. That does not mean you should claim to be able to do things you can't do, of course, but showing that you feel good about yourself and your abilities is a must.
  
• "Dumb questions."
  This is probably the place where the "manhole cover" question would fit. Questions like this are to see what kind of answer you will come up with, and to explore why you answered the way you did. And, as you've probably guessed by now, these questions are NOT dumb. They are basically to see how you think.
  
• "What did you do?" or "How did you do that?" questions.
  These questions are to see how you actually behaved in real situations. They may not have anything to do with any kind of work you have done, though. Something you have told about during the interview, or something you put on your resume will give them an idea for this type of question.
  

Regardless of what kinds of questions your interviewer asks, though, you should always remember this. They are hoping that you will do well in your interview. After all, their reason for interviewing you is to find the best person for the job. That person might as well be you.

Beware of PayDay Loan Companies

Losing your job means having to figure out how to make those dollars go farther. Obviously. Be careful not to fall for the "easy money" ploys out there.

One of the worst is the so-called "payday loan" or "check advance" companies. Payday loans are a major rip-off that will cost you 500% or more in interest. They won't tell you about that, though. In fact, when I asked about the interest rate at one of the local outfits they insisted on talking about "fees" instead of interest.

Another is the "instant tax refund" which is really just an advance loan against your refund with the fee (high interest) taken out up front.

Also, check the interest rate on your credit card. Some will have a rate of 20% or more.